hook size for steelhead

[Moley Molson]

I've looked through the archives, but didn't really find what I was lookin for.

My past 4 steely trips have resulted in 3 fish lost...set the hook, fish on, fight for about 30 seconds, and just like that, fish off.

At the beginning of this year, I was using #1 owners, and landing fish, no bigger than a 10lb hatchery though.

Recently i've sized down to a #2 because of low water, and that's when I've noticed myself losing more fish....they felt bigger than the 10lb hatchery fish, maybe a few big nates :smile: Since i've changed back to the #1....no fish to test the theroy.

Just wondering what everyone else uses while drift fishing....mostly just corky and yarn, sometimes sand shrimp.

Thanks in advance for the info.

[Timber]

A lot depends on the size of the drifter you use. For the nates I very rarely use smaller than a 1/0 and most of the time I use a 2/0 theese fish have a large mouth and have no trouble getting a 2/0 inside.I recently switched to the VMC vanadium hooks and have been very pleased with the results. Tim

[blacktail]

I prefer Gamakatsu in "single" hooks. I've had the best luck with hook-up -vs- landing ratio with these.

I match the hooks to the size presentation I'm using. Anywhere from 2/0's down to size 2's. Seem to use size 1's the most. Haven't had any problems hooking and landing large fish on sizes down to 2's.

Mike

[Fish Hawg]

I use #1 Owners for summers and winters . Mainly the needle points If I'm float fishing I use cuting points....Ross

[MasterCaster]

I use 1 or 1/0 for almost all winter steelhead fishing. The main thing if you are drift fishing corkies is make sure your corkie can pass through the belly of your hook (between the point and shank). Thats how you want to match them up. I also downsized my hooks before but didnt down size my corkies and had the same problem. Once I went back to size 1 hooks I was back in business.

If you are fishing bait a size 2 should work as long as your bait is small. I wouldnt go under a 1/0 though if you are after nates.

Jon :smile: :grin: :smile:

[ 02-26-2004, 08:44 PM: Message edited by: MasterCaster ]

[KingFisher85]

I don't know,....I may be the odd ball of the group but I do best with lite line and small hooks. #4 gamis all the way! I even found some #6s I can't wait to try out this summer! :grin:

[Fish Finder]

any #1 or #2 hook with a longer shank.

[Fish Hawg]

Size 6, :shocked: Thats what I use for kokanne fishing A # 6 then a #8 :tongue:

[Twitchs_Tackle]

There could be a lot more to it than jsut the hook. If you have a stiff rod, or a drag set too tight, you may be pulling more hooks. ALso the water you are fishing in may cause more/less losses. Fast water it is much more difficult to handle fish than slower water.

I fish mainly flies with my drift gear and the hooks we use are size #8. I will rarely use hooks larger than #4. I know some applications, this may not work to well, but we (remarkably) lose very few fish. You just have to be more patient when you play them and hook them well. I like to use the smaller hooks when fish get stacked up to help reduce the possibility of snagging fish.

Hope this helps, good luck! :grin:

[IFISH4U]

I just caught two winters today on cured prawns and #2 hook, low water, i like to use #2`s if using small baits and small #14 corkie, if using any bigger baits or corkies I go with #1. If using just straight yarn while sidedrifting I use #4 hooks. One size hook wont always work, depends on what you have on and always try to get maximum hook exposure with lightest hook possible. If I was using a #1/0 hook today with the same corkie and bait, it probably would have gotten hung up or rolled underneath the fish and he would have never seen it.

Tip. Try using two 3/4 inch pieces of squarely cut glo bug yarn(the fat stuff), put it squarely in the egg loop of a #4 Gami. drop the hook and yarn in the water and watch it transform into an awesome attractive looking bait, thats very bouyant and fish love. Five foot leader six or four lb line and small leads. Perfect for fishing drifts with massive smolts, and drifts that tend to tear up bait, if you think its a fish biting and not that same rock again, set the hook, you wont have to rebait when you reel in. Also have used it as a jig underneath a bobber and killed them just add split shot about twelve inches above to get it down. Good Colors, Shrimp Pink, Salmon egg, Black and purple together, and whatever variations you choose. Awesome for fast and mild water drifting, just barely enough lead to tap bottom, works perfect on 1141 loomis, very sensitive rods best used. Try it.

[Reel Premier]

If you are drift fishing from the bank, or an anchored boat, I would recomend using a size 1 or 1/0 hook. IMO you want a hook with some backbone to pull fish in without straighting the hook out. There is a lot of variables such a the rod you are using{stiff,soft}, to the type of water you're fishing in{fast, or slow}, and type of line. But as a general rule, stick to 1 or 1/0's. Also, go with Gami's, there sticky sharp right out of the package, and penatrate nice with a good hook set. These sizes will work good for all combinations, wheather it be a plain corky, corky/yarn, or bait such as eggs or sandshrimp. Good luck and go get em. :grin:

[tag-a-long]

I use1/O, AND 2/0 for both steelies and sprngers. I also use exclusively owner hooks. If you are losing fish, you may have to chalk it up to experience and try to figure out where in your method you are going wrong. I used to have a nasty side-swing hookset that resulted in a few lost fish. On the brighter side, at leadst you are in the fish!

[ 02-27-2004, 07:11 AM: Message edited by: tag-a-long ]

[Moley Molson]

Thanks guys for all the info.
I'm going back out this afternoon to try the ole #1 owners again. To bad the river came up big time last night....probably won't get to test the bigger hook theory again :smile:
But I will expect a fish with every cast!

[rola76]

#2 or #4 Gamis

[SteelieSlammer]

I really think it depends on the water conditons. I fish with either #2, #1 or 1/0 depending on the water color. Also if its a fast moving hole you can use a larger hook but if its slow then you want to make sure its not oversized and dragging on the bottom. Just make sure you give it a heck of a good hook set and keep your line tight. If they get off it just wasn't ment to be.

[SHOUGALNITE]

For steelhead while fishing in my db I prefer 1/0 gami. Off the bank if the water is high I would also use the 1/0. In lower water conditions I use 1,2, and even 4 .

[Akuracy503]

#1 owner cutting point black chrome , gami's loose there "stickyness" from my experience..

[cutt plug]

Lower water when I'm fishing just #12 corky & yarn, no bait, I use a #2 Owner. Higher more colored water, #10 corky & yarn, no bait, I use a #1 Owner. If I'm fishing with eggs I'm more prone to use a 1/0 Owner.

Statistically I'm at a 75% hook-up ratio this year with the above choices. However, I'll be honest and tell you I don't have many data points.

I do believe the conditions of the water and surroundings as well as ones ability to play a fish are the primary factor in consistently putting fish in the net.